Trauma & OrthopaedicsPending review

Shoulder Dislocation

The glenohumeral joint sacrifices bony stability for range of movement, so it dislocates more often than any other joint, typically anteriorly after a fall onto an abducted, externally rotated arm, putting the axillary nerve at risk.

In a nutshell

The glenohumeral joint sacrifices bony stability for mobility, making it the most frequently dislocated joint, typically anteriorly after a fall onto an abducted, externally rotated arm. The axillary nerve wraps around the surgical neck right where the head displaces, so it must be checked before and after reduction, which should not be delayed.

Classic presentation

A patient after a fall onto an outstretched arm, with a painful shoulder held in abduction and external rotation and loss of the normal deltoid contour.

Key points

The shallow glenoid and reliance on soft tissue for stability, the labrum, capsule and rotator cuff rather than bony constraint, explains why the shoulder dislocates more than any other joint.

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Educational content pending clinical review. Not medical advice.